Challenger of the Week: Will Starr

Will StarrAge: 48Hometown: Swarthmore, PennsylvaniaFamily: Two sons Nico (17) and Max (14) and a wonderfully supportive wife, Lise.Occupation: I teach fourth grade at Plymouth Meeting Friends School, a small Quaker elementary school outside of Philadelphia.Experience: I was always active in sports growing up. Soccer, wrestling, and Ultimate Frisbee were my passions. I naturally ran as part of these sports but was never really a runner. As with many of us, it took me a long time to feel comfortable using this title of “runner.”RW Challenge Goal: My goal was to first make it to the starting line and then to complete the Pocono Marathon on May 19. In preparation for these, I signed up for the Caesar Rodney Half-Marathon in Wilmington, Delaware, and the Broad Street Run (10 miles) in Philly.Why did you start running? As a teacher, I spend my days with lots of people. Running was an opportunity to have some time alone, in the peace and quiet or in the rockin’ sounds of my iPhone. My choice, my schedule. My wife is also a runner, so one day about two years ago I joined her, and it was really fun. From there we started running somewhat regularly together. Last winter I started to run a bit more seriously and began to enter local 5-Ks, just to have fun. After a number of three- to 10-mile runs, I ran the Rehoboth Beach Half-Marathon last December. It was a great leap into longer distances that I knew would someday involve a marathon.Why run a marathon? As I was heading up a hill, at mile 21 of the Pocono Marathon, I asked myself this question over and over again. I genuinely enjoy running and a marathon can be seen as one of its many pinnacles. The exercise, bragging rights, and weight loss are all good of course, but in the end I truly liked the physical challenge of trying to conquer 26.2 miles.What was the biggest challenge of training? For me, it was going out to run after work during the week. By the time I get home from school I am almost always tired, and ramping back up was often a real challenge.How did you get over it? The key for me was to go right after I got home. If I settled into any other activity, I would lose my sometimes minimal momentum and skip it. Walking in the door, putting down my things and getting changed helped me get out the door. Then, as we all know, after a mile or so I was glad to be running.What was the biggest reward of marathon training? Walking into my house at the end of the long run, I always felt proud. I had almost always completed my goal for the day and was one step closer to being ready for the 26.2 miles in May. The hot shower that followed felt pretty great as well!Favorite fuel: After trying a number of different kinds of beans and gels, I settled on Hammer gels. I wouldn’t go so far as to say they taste good, but my stomach can tolerate them and their salespeople are really helpful.Favorite piece of gear: Last December I was given a Nathan Runner's Belt by a pair of twin sisters in my fourth-grade class. After their mother had diligently gone out and bought me the proverbial "World's Best Teacher" mug, they convinced her to look at REI for something more personal. I have worn this belt on every long run and race every since.Which lessons have you learned during training that have also helped you off the road? Running, much like life, has its hills and valleys. On any given run, and particularly in most marathons, we come across easy stretches and seemingly impossible challenges. I have learned to just keep going. The tough moments never last, and the easy stretches are always a joy. The same is clearly true in life, if we just keep going we'll get to that finish line with water, massages, and bananas!What advice would you give a beginner? I feel like I am still a beginner. That said, I am a firm believer in getting off one's butt and running. For me it isn't about the speed or the distance necessarily, it’s just getting dressed and going out to run.

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